The Economic Impact of Sports and Sports Events on the ...

The Economic Impact of Sports and Sports Events on the Charlotte MSA Economy

February, 2012: Final Report

Prepared by: John E. Connaughton, Ph.D.

The Economic Impact of Sports and Sports Events on the Charlotte MSA Economy

Executive Summary The purpose of this report is to analyze and define the economic impact of sports and

sporting events on the Charlotte, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) economy during 2011. This report consists of seven parts that provide an overview of the sports and sports video economic sector, the methodology used, and a detailed analysis of the economic impact of sports and sports related activities on the Charlotte MSA economy.

As recently as 1980 the sports industry had minimal impact on the Charlotte economy. That year Charlotte Motor Speedway only hosted two races in what was then called the Winston Cup Series. Two major professional organizations (NASCAR and AA Baseball) and the three college activities (all NCAA basketball) accounted for only 448,000 in annual attendance. Revenue figures from that period are not available, but an estimate based on published prices suggests that total ticket revenue was less than $6,000,000. Total revenue, including concessions, parking, television, and radio, was under $15,000,000.

In 1987 the National Basketball Association awarded an expansion franchise to Charlotte. The Hornets began playing in 1988 and led the NBA in attendance that year. The Hornets went on to achieve a 358 consecutive game sellout record and that opened the door for major professional sports in Charlotte. A National Football League team, the Carolina Panthers, followed in 1995 and began selling out its 72,000 seat downtown stadium in 1996. These two franchises changed Charlotte's national image and helped usher in an expansion of the sports industry that now generates over two billion dollars in revenue and supports thousands of jobs.

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Tables E.1 and E.2 present the specific economic impact information for the Charlotte MSA for sports and related events held during 2011. Table E.1 shows that in 2011 over 4,700,000 persons either attended events or participated in amateur youth tournaments within the Charlotte MSA. This represents more than a ten-fold increase since 1980. Direct spending on sports events, video production, and youth tournaments was $1,094,814,607 during the year. In addition, 13,834 direct jobs were supported by sports events, video production, and youth tournaments in the Charlotte MSA.

Table E.1

Category Professional and College Teams Special Events Video Production/Media Youth Sporting Events Totals

Sports Activity in 2011

Direct On-Site Direct Off-

Attendance

Revenue Site Revenue

2,200,502

$344,168,705 $58,189,802

2,122,500

$181,562,247 $140,076,059

N/A

$238,077,395

N/A

381,000

N/A $132,740,400

4,704,002

$763,808,347 331,006,260

Direct Revenue $402,358,507 $321,638,306 $238,077,395 $132,740,400 $1,094,814,607

Direct Employment

6,246 4,841

820 1,927 13,834

Table E.2 shows that total spending (including direct, indirect, and induced effects) on sports events, video production, and youth tournaments was $2,188,207,639 during the year. In addition, sports events, video production, and youth tournaments supported 23,136 total jobs in the Charlotte MSA. Overall, the sports industry has evolved into a significant industry for the Charlotte MSA. It supports a substantial number of jobs and injects over $2 billion into the local economy annually.

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Table E.2

Category Professional and College Teams Special Events Video Production/Media Youth Sporting Events Totals

Sports Activity in 2011

Total On-Site Total Off-Site

Attendance

Revenue

Revenue

Total

Total

Revenue Employment

2,200,502 $700,680,377

$99,976,363 $800,656,740

9,827

2,122,500 $369,635,885 $244,920,095 $614,555,979

7,376

N/A $540,466,828

N/A $540,466,828

3,228

381,000

N/A $232,528,091 $232,528,091

2,704

4,704,002 $1,610,783,090

577,424,549 2,188,207,639

23,136

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The Economic Impact of Sports and Sports Events on the Charlotte MSA Economy

Introduction This report analyzes the economic impact of sports and sporting events on the Charlotte

MSA economy during 2011. It consists of seven sections. The first section presents an overview and history of the Charlotte MSA economy and the growth of sports as an industry within the Charlotte MSA. The second section provides a general understanding of regional economic impact methodology and the specific methodology used in this paper. In addition, this section also outlines the organization of the study and the data collection methodology. The third section presents an analysis of the economic impact of professional and college regularly scheduled sporting events during 2011. The fourth section presents an analysis of the economic impact of special sporting events in 2011. The fifth section presents the economic impact of amateur youth events during 2011. The sixth section presents the economic impact of sports related video and media production on the Charlotte economy during 2011. The final section outlines the total economic impact of all sports and sports related activity on the Charlotte MSA economy in 2011. Part 1. Overview and History of Charlotte Sports and Events

The Charlotte, North Carolina MSA consists of six counties (Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Mecklenburg, and Union in North Carolina and York in South Carolina). The MSA population in 2010 was 1,758,038 which ranked as the nation's 33rd largest MSA. Figure 1.1 presents a regional map of the Charlotte area with the six MSA counties highlighted.

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Figure 1.1 Charlotte-Gastonia-Salisbury Combined Statistical Area

Table 1.1 presents the six county Charlotte MSA population and personal income over the past 40 years. During this period the Charlotte MSA population has increased by 137 percent and Per Capita Personal Income (PCPI) has increased by 963 percent. Real (inflation-adjusted) PCPI has increased by 90 percent. For the past 40 years the Charlotte MSA has consistently ranked among the nation's fastest growing MSAs, and in the most recent decade the Charlotte

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MSA was ranked as the fourth fastest growing large MSA behind Las Vegas, Raleigh, and Austin.

Table 1.1

Charlotte MSA Population and Personal Income 1970-2010*

Category

1970

1980

1990

2000

Personal income (thousands of dollars) $2,751,601 $7,925,234 $20,636,565 $44,526,614

Population (persons)

743,122 859,640 1,030,945 1,339,903

Per capita personal income (dollars)

$3,703

$9,219

$20,017

$33,231

Annual Percent Change in PCPI

N/A

9.6%

8.1%

5.2%

Annual Percent Change in Population

N/A

1.5%

1.8%

* Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis

2.7%

2010 $69,224,102

1,758,038 $39,376 1.7% 2.8%

In 1959 O. Bruton Smith of Oakboro, North Carolina built Charlotte's first major sports

venue, a high banked 1.5 mile super speedway. The Charlotte Speedway held its first event in

June, 1960 and has hosted major NASCAR events every year. During the 1960s and 1970s

NASCAR was considered a regional sport with most races and fans residing in the southeastern

United States.

Charlotte's attempts at becoming a major league sports town began in 1969 when the

American Basketball Association Houston Cougars moved to North Carolina. The Cougars

developed an interesting approach to home games by splitting the 42 games among four North

Carolina Cities (Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, and Winston-Salem). This proved an

unworkable arrangement and in 1974, after five seasons, the Cougars moved to St. Louis.

In 1974 the New York Stars of the new World Football League (WFL) moved to

Charlotte in mid-season after disappointing attendance results in New York. The Charlotte Stars

played just two home games during the 1974 season. In 1975, renamed the Charlotte Hornets,

the team played seven regular season home games before the WFL folded. By the end of the

1970s, Charlotte seemed resigned to minor league team sports.

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As recently as 1980 the sports industry had minimal impact on the Charlotte economy. Table 1.2 presents the total sports activity in that year. In 1980 Charlotte Motor Speedway only hosted two races in what was then called the Winston Cup Series. The companion Busch Series racing at Charlotte did not begin until 1982. In addition to the limited racing schedule at the speedway, attendance was considerably smaller than it is today. The two major professional organizations along with the three college activities accounted for only 448,000 in annual attendance. Revenue figures from that period are not available, but an estimate based on published prices suggests the total ticket revenue was less than $6,000,000. Total revenue, including concessions, parking, television and radio, was under $15,000,000.

Table 1.2

Charlotte Sports 1980

Team/Event

Sport

Charlotte Motor Speedway

NASCAR

Charlotte O's

AA Baseball

UNC Charlotte

NCAA Basketball

North/South Doubleheader

NCAA Basketball

Sun Belt Conference Tournament NCAA Basketball

Total

Attendance 190,000 190,000 40,000 18,000 10,000 448,000

In 1987 the National Basketball Association awarded a franchise to Charlotte businessman George Shinn. The Charlotte Hornets began playing in the fall of 1988 in the brand new 24,000 seat Charlotte Coliseum. During that first season the Hornets led the NBA in attendance and began a series of 358 consecutive game sellouts over a nine year period.

The success of the Hornets set the stage for another Charlotte sports success. In 1993 the National Football League awarded Jerry Richardson and Charlotte with a franchise, and the team began playing in 1995 in Clemson, South Carolina. In 1996 the Panthers moved to their new stadium in downtown Charlotte and began selling out the 72,000 seat stadium.

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